Method for displaying content in expandable screen area and electronic device supporting the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a first structure, a second structure, a flexible touch screen display layer including a plane part and a bendable portion, an application processor, at least one display driver integrated circuit, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed while the application processor is inactivated, cause the at least one display driver integrated circuit to display at least one first object in a first area of the plane part in a first state where the first structure is closed with respect to the second structure and to display at least one second object associated with the first object in a second area of the plane part or in a third area of the bendable portion in a second state where the first structure is opened with respect to the second structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0053072, filed on May 9, 2018,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a method for displayingcontent of an expandable screen area and an electronic device supportingthe same.

2. Description of Related Art

As electronic devices with independent operating systems rapidly spread,such electronic devices provide various functions or services. As such,a display that provides a recognition (e.g., input) or representation(e.g., output) of information resources that accompany a function orservice operation is becoming more important, and various types ofdisplays that incorporate state-of-the-art technologies are beingproposed. For example, the display may be a flexible display mounted inan electronic device as a roll structure. The flexible display of theroll structure may be extended to a large area by expanding the rolledarea in response to a structural transformation of the electronicdevice.

Even when operating in a sleep state to save power consumption, anelectronic device may display useful information such as a time, a date,or a notification via a display (e.g., always on display (AOD))operating at low-power. However, when the size (or screen area) of thedisplay is changed depending on the structural transformation of theelectronic device, the electronic device, in the sleep state, may notcontrol or process the display of information to be matched to thechanged size of the display.

Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide a method of displayingcontent of an expandable screen area, which is capable of controllingthe display of information based on a size (or screen area) change of adisplay operating at low-power, and an electronic device supporting thesame.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to address the above-mentionedproblems and disadvantages, and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device isprovided that includes a first structure, a second structure, a flexibletouch screen display layer, an application processor, at least onedisplay driver integrated circuit operatively connected to the flexibletouch screen display layer and the application processor, and a memoryoperatively connected to the at least one display driver integratedcircuit. The first structure includes a first place that includes afirst surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface.The second structure includes a second plate facing the second surfaceof the first plate, a first sidewall perpendicular to the second plate,a second sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewall and the secondplate, and a third sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewall and thesecond plate and parallel to the second sidewall, wherein the secondplate, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewallform a trough to accommodate at least part of the first structure, andone side of the trough is open, wherein the first structure is capableof being moved in a first direction parallel to the second plate and thesecond sidewall between an open state and a closed state with respect tothe second structure, wherein the first structure in the closed state ispositioned at a first distance from the first sidewall, and wherein thefirst structure in the open state is positioned at a second distance,which is greater than the first distance, from the first sidewall. Theflexible touch screen display layer includes a plane part extendingacross at least part of the first surface of the first plate and mountedon the first surface, and a bendable portion extending into a spacebetween the first sidewall of the second structure and the firststructure from the plane part in the closed state, wherein when thefirst structure is moved from the closed state to the open state, atleast part of the bendable portion may be pulled from the space betweenthe first sidewall of the second structure and the first structure tosubstantially form a plane between the plane part and the first sidewallof the second structure, when viewed from above the first plate. Thememory stores instructions that, when executed while the applicationprocessor is inactivated, cause the at least one display driverintegrated circuit to display at least one first object in a first areaof the plane part of the flexible touch screen display layer in theclosed state, and to display at least one second object associated withthe first object in a second area of the plane part or in a third areaof the bendable portion of the flexible touch screen display layer inthe open state, wherein the first area is positioned between the secondarea and the first sidewall of the second structure, and the third areais positioned between the first area and the first sidewall of thesecond structure.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronicdevice includes a first plate; a second plate disposed under the firstplate; a rollable module interposed between the first plate and thesecond plate and disposed to move the first plate between an open stateand a closed state with respect to the second plate; a flexible touchscreen display disposed to extend from an upper portion of the firstplate to a space between the rollable module and the second plate,wherein at least part of the flexible touch screen display is guided bythe rollable module and a screen area of the flexible touch screendisplay is expanded in the open state; at least one display driverintegrated circuit; and a processor electrically connected to theflexible touch screen display and the at least one display driverintegrated circuit, wherein the at least one display driver integratedcircuit is configured to, in a first state where the processor isinactive and the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is notexpanded, display at least one first object in a specified first area ofthe screen area; and in a second state where the processor is inactiveand the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is expanded,display at least one second object associated with the first object, ina second area corresponding to an upper portion of the specified firstarea of the expanded screen area or in a third area corresponding to alower portion of the specified first area

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method ofdisplaying content of an expandable screen area of an electronic deviceincludes operating, by the electronic device, in an inactive state; in afirst state where the electronic device is inactive and a screen area ofa display of the electronic device is not expanded, displaying at leastone first object in a specified first area of the screen area; and in asecond state where the electronic device is inactive and the screen areaof the display of the electronic device is expanded, displaying at leastone second object associated with the first object in a second areacorresponding to an upper portion of the first area of the expandedscreen area or in a third area corresponding to a lower portion of thefirst area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A illustrates a front surface of an electronic device in a closedstate, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B illustrates a front surface of an electronic device in an openstate, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1C is a view illustrating a rear surface of an electronic device;according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an expanded form of an electronic device,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronicdevice, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a user interface associated with an AODstate setting of an electronic device, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a shape for determining a closed state oran open state of an electronic device, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating an AOD object display form of anelectronic device in a closed state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a flowchart illustrating an AOD object displaying method ofan electronic device in a closed state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7A is a view illustrating an AOD object display form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7B is a view illustrating an AOD object switch form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7C is a view illustrating an AOD object operation form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7D is a flowchart illustrating a method of switching and operatingan AOD object of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 8A is a view illustrating an AOD object switch form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8B is a view illustrating an AOD object switch form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8C is a view illustrating an AOD object switch form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating a first operation example of an expandedscreen area of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9B is a view illustrating a second operation example of an expandedscreen area of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9C is a view illustrating a third operation example of an expandedscreen area of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9D is a view illustrating a fourth operation example of an expandedscreen area of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9E is a view illustrating a fifth operation example of an expandedscreen area of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a content displaying method of anexpandable screen area of an electronic device, according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device in a networkenvironment, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure may be described withreference to accompanying drawings. Accordingly, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that modification, equivalent, and/oralternative on the various embodiments described herein can be variouslymade without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Withregard to description of drawings, similar components may be marked bysimilar reference numerals.

In the disclosure, the expressions “have”, “may have”, “include” and“comprise”, or “may include”, and “may comprise” used herein indicateexistence of corresponding features (e.g., components such as numericvalues, functions, operations, or parts) but do not exclude presence ofadditional features.

In the disclosure, the expressions “A or B”, “at least one of A or/andB”, or “one or more of A or/and B”, and the like may include any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the term “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A orB” may refer to all of the case (1) where at least one A is included,the case (2) where at least one B is included, or the case (3) whereboth of at least one A and at least one B are included.

The terms, such as “first”, “second”, and the like used in thedisclosure may be used to refer to various components regardless of theorder and/or the priority and to distinguish the relevant componentsfrom other components, but do not limit the components. For example, “afirst user device” and “a second user device” indicate different userdevices regardless of the order or priority. For example, withoutdeparting the scope of the disclosure, a first component may be referredto as a second component, and similarly, a second component may bereferred to as a first component.

It will be understood that when an component (e.g., a first component)is referred to as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupledwith/to” or “connected to” another component (e.g., a second component),it may be directly coupled with/to or connected to the other componentor an intervening component (e.g., a third component) may be present. Incontrast, when an component (e.g., a first component) is referred to asbeing “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” anothercomponent (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that thereare no intervening component (e.g., a third component).

According to the situation, the expression “configured to” used in thedisclosure may be used as, for example, the expression “suitable for”,“having the capacity to”, “designed to”, “adapted to”, “made to”, or“capable of”. The term “configured to” must not mean only “specificallydesigned to” in hardware. Instead, the expression “a device configuredto” may mean that the device is “capable of” operating together withanother device or other parts. For example, a “processor configured to(or set to) perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor (e.g.,an embedded processor) for performing a corresponding operation or ageneric-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or anapplication processor) which performs corresponding operations byexecuting one or more software programs which are stored in a memorydevice.

Terms used in the disclosure are used to describe specified embodimentsand are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The terms ofa singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified. Allthe terms used herein, which include technical or scientific terms, mayhave the same meaning that is generally understood by a person skilledin the art. It will be further understood that terms, which are definedin a dictionary and commonly used, should also be interpreted as iscustomary in the relevant related art and not in an idealized or overlyformal unless expressly so defined in various embodiments of thedisclosure. In some cases, even if terms are terms which are defined inthe disclosure, they may not be interpreted to exclude embodiments ofthe disclosure.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosuremay include at least one of, for example, smartphones, tablet personalcomputers (PCs), mobile phones, video telephones, electronic bookreaders, desktop PCs, laptop PCs, netbook computers, workstations,servers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players(PMPs), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2) Audio Layer 3(MP3) players, mobile medical devices, cameras, or wearable devices.According to various embodiments, the wearable device may include atleast one of an accessory type (e.g., watches, rings, bracelets,anklets, necklaces, glasses, contact lens, or head-mounted-devices(HMDs), a fabric or garment-integrated type (e.g., an electronicapparel), a body-attached type (e.g., a skin pad or tattoos), or abio-implantable type (e.g., an implantable circuit).

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may be a homeappliance. The home appliances may include at least one of, for example,televisions (TVs), digital versatile disc (DVD) players, audios,refrigerators, air conditioners, cleaners, ovens, microwave ovens,washing machines, air cleaners, set-top boxes, home automation controlpanels, security control panels, TV boxes (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™,Apple TV™, or Google TV™), game consoles (e.g., Xbox™ or PlayStation™),electronic dictionaries, electronic keys, camcorders, electronic pictureframes, and the like.

According to another embodiment, an electronic device may include atleast one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medicalmeasurement devices (e.g., a blood glucose monitoring device, aheartbeat measuring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a bodytemperature measuring device, and the like), a magnetic resonanceangiography (MRA), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computedtomography (CT), scanners, and ultrasonic devices), navigation devices,Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), event data recorders (EDRs),flight data recorders (FDRs), vehicle infotainment devices, electronicequipment for vessels (e.g., navigation systems and gyrocompasses),avionics, security devices, head units for vehicles, industrial or homerobots, automated teller machines (ATMs), points of sales (POSs) ofstores, or internet of things (e.g., light bulbs, various sensors,electric or gas meters, sprinkler devices, fire alarms, thermostats,street lamps, toasters, exercise equipment, hot water tanks, heaters,boilers, and the like).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include at leastone of parts of furniture or buildings/structures, electronic boards,electronic signature receiving devices, projectors, or various measuringinstruments (e.g., water meters, electricity meters, gas meters, or wavemeters, and the like). According to various embodiments, the electronicdevice may be one of the above-described devices or a combinationthereof. An electronic device according to an embodiment may be aflexible electronic device. Furthermore, an electronic device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure may not be limited to theabove-described electronic devices and may include other electronicdevices and new electronic devices according to the development oftechnologies.

Hereinafter, electronic devices according to various embodiments will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedisclosure, the term “user” may refer to a person who uses an electronicdevice or may refer to a device (e.g., an artificial intelligenceelectronic device) that uses the electronic device.

The structure of an electronic device to which various embodiments maybe applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2.

FIG. 1A illustrates a front surface of an electronic device in a closedstate, according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B illustrates a front surfaceof an electronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment.FIG. 1C is a view illustrating a rear surface of an electronic device,according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 1A, an electronic device 100 is in a state where a firststructure 110 is closed with respect to a second structure 120, and inFIG. 1B, the electronic device 100 is in a state where the firststructure 110 is opened with respect to the second structure 120.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the electronic device 100 includesthe first structure 110 and the second structure 120 movably disposed inthe first structure 110. According to an embodiment, the first structure110 may be disposed such that it is possible to expand by a specificdistance dl in a first direction (e.g., {circle around (1)} direction)with respect to the second structure 120.

According to various embodiments, a first plate 111 of the firststructure 110 may include a first surface 1111 and a second surface 1112facing away from the first surface 1111. According to an embodiment, thesecond structure 120 may include at least one of a second plate 121, afirst sidewall 1211 extending to the second plate 121, a second sidewall1212 extending to the first sidewall 1211 and the second plate 121, athird sidewall 1213 extending to the second plate 121 and parallel tothe second sidewall 1212, or a second rear plate 180 (e.g., rearwindow). According to an embodiment, the second plate 121, the firstsidewall 1211, the second sidewall 1212, and the third sidewall 1213 mayform the second structure 120 such that one side is opened toaccommodate at least part of the first structure 110. According to anembodiment, the second sidewall 1212 or the third sidewall 1213 may beomitted. According to an embodiment, at least part of the second plate121, the first sidewall 1211, the second sidewall 1212, and the thirdsidewall 1213 may be formed as an integral structure. According toanother embodiment, at least part of the second plate 121, the firstsidewall 1211, the second sidewall 1212, and the third sidewall 1213 maybe formed as a separate structure. According to an embodiment, thesecond rear plate 180 may shield at least part of a display 112.

According to an embodiment, the first structure 110 may move in thefirst direction (e.g., {circle around (1)} direction) parallel to thesecond plate 121 and the second sidewall 1212 so as to be in an openstate and a closed state with respect to the second structure 120. Forexample, the first structure 110 may be positioned at a first distancefrom the first sidewall 1211 in the closed state and move to bepositioned at a second distance, which is greater than the firstdistance, from the first sidewall 1211 in the open state.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 100 may include atleast one of the display 112, a first audio module 113, a second audiomodule 123, a third audio module 125, a first camera module 115, asecond camera module 135, an indicator 116 (e.g., a light emitting diode(LED) device), a first sensor module 114, a second sensor module 134, akey input device 127, a first connector hole 131, or a second connectorhole 132.

According to an embodiment, the display 112 may include a plane part1121 extending to cross at least part of the first surface 1111 anddisposed on the first surface 1111 and a bendable portion extending to aspace between the first sidewall 1211 and the first structure 110 fromthe plane part 1121 in the closed state. According to an embodiment,when the first structure 110 is moved such that the state of the firststructure 110 is changed from the closed state to the open state, atleast part of a bendable portion when viewed from above the first plate111 may move to substantially form a plane between the plane part 1121and the first sidewall 1211 in the direction of the plane part 1121 by aspecific display area. The display 112 may be coupled to or may bedisposed adjacent to a touch sensing circuit, a pressure sensormeasuring the intensity (or pressure) of the touch, and a digitizerdetecting a stylus pen of a magnetic field scheme.

According to an embodiment, the first audio module 113, second audiomodule 123, and third audio module 125 may include the first speakerhole 113, the second speaker hole 123 or the microphone hole 125. Thefirst speaker hole 113 and/or the second speaker hole 123 may includethe receiver hole 113 or the external speaker hole 123. A microphone forreceiving external sound may be positioned within the microphone hole125. In any embodiment, a plurality of microphones may be positioned tomake it possible to detect a direction of sound. Alternatively, thefirst speaker hole 113 and/or the second speaker hole 123 and themicrophone hole 125 may be implemented as a single hole, or theelectronic device 100 may include a speaker (e.g., a piezo speaker)without the first speaker hole 113 and/or the second speaker hole 123.The receiver hole 113 may be positioned in the first structure 110, andthe external speaker hole 123 or the microphone hole 125 may bepositioned in the second structure 120. According to another embodiment,the external speaker hole 123 may be disposed on the second surface 1112of the first plate 111 or may be disposed on the side surface of thefirst structure 110. According to another embodiment, the microphonehole 125 may be disposed on the side surface of the first structure 110.

According to an embodiment, the first sensor module 114 and/or thesecond sensor module 134 may generate an electrical signal or a datavalue which corresponds to an internal operation state of the electronicdevice 100 or corresponds to an external environment state. For example,the first sensor module 114 and/or the second sensor module 134 mayinclude at least one of the first sensor module 114 (e.g., a proximitysensor) disposed on the first surface 1111 of the first plate 111, anadditional sensor module (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) disposed on thesecond surface 1112 of the first plate 111, and the second sensor module134 (e.g., a heart rate monitor (HRM) sensor). According to variousembodiments, the electronic device 100 may further include at least oneof a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, amagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor,an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, ahumidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor, in addition to theabove-described sensor module.

According to an embodiment, the first camera device 115 and/or thesecond camera device 135 may include at least one of the first cameradevice 115 disposed on the first surface 1111 of the first plate 111 andthe second camera device 135 disposed on the second surface 1112 of thefirst plate 111. The first camera device 115 or the second camera device135 may include at least one of at least one lens, an image sensor, andan image signal processor. According to an embodiment, the second cameradevice 135 may be disposed on one surface of the second structure 120.

According to an embodiment, the key input device 127 may be disposed onthe second sidewall 1212 or the third sidewall 1213 of the secondstructure 120. According to another embodiment, at least part of the keyinput device 127 may be disposed on one area of the first structure 110.In an embodiment, the key input device 127 may include a power button ora volume control button. In various embodiments, the electronic device100 may include not only the key input device 127 disposed on the secondsidewall 1212 or the third sidewall 1213, but also a home key button ora touch pad disposed around the home key button.

According to an embodiment, the indicator 116 may be disposed on thefirst surface 1111 of the first plate 111. For example, the indicator116 may provide state information of the electronic device 100 in theform of light by including an LED.

According to an embodiment, the first connector hole 131 may accommodatea connector (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) connector) fortransmitting/receiving at least one of power or data to/from an externalelectronic device, and the second connector hole 132 (or an earphonejack) may accommodate a connector for transmitting/receiving an audiosignal to/from the external electronic device. According to anembodiment, the first connector hole 131 or the second connector hole132 may be formed on the first sidewall 1211 of the second structure120. Alternatively, the first connector hole 131 or the second connectorhole 132 may be formed on the sidewall of the first structure 110.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an expanded form of an electronic device,according to an embodiment.

An electronic device 200 described with reference to FIG. 2 may be atleast partly the same as or similar to the electronic device 100described above in FIG. 1A, 1B, or 1C, and may include other embodimentswith respect to at least some of the components.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 200 includes at least one ofa display 212, a first structure 210, a first plate 211, a secondstructure 220, a second plate 221, a printed circuit board 230, asupport member 240 (e.g., a rear case), a second hinge plate 264, and asecond rear plate 280 (e.g., a rear window). According to variousembodiments, the electronic device 200 may not include at least one(e.g., the support member 240 or a first rear plate 250) of theabove-described components or may further include additional components.

The display 212 may include a first surface 2121, a second surface 2122,and a third surface 2123, and the display area of a screen may bechanged based on the exposed area. When the electronic device 200 is inthe closed state where the first structure 210 is closed with respect tothe second structure 220, the first surface 2121 and the third surface2123 of the display 212 may form a plane, and the second surface 2122may form a curved surface.

The first structure 210 may include the first plate 211. For example,the first structure 210 may be formed of at least one of a metalmaterial and a non-metal (e.g., polymer) material. The display 212 maybe coupled to one surface of the first plate 211, and the printedcircuit board 230 may be coupled to the other surface. The first plate211 may be connected to one side of a multi-bar 263 connected to atleast part of the second surface 2122 of the display 212. The firststructure 210 may be fixed to the second hinge plate 264.

A first hinge plate 261 may support the multi-bar 263 upon expanding thedisplay 212. The first hinge plate 261 and a first hinge plate fixingpart 261 a may be formed integrally. The first hinge plate fixing part261 a may be connected to a second hinge plate fixing part 264 aprovided on the second hinge plate 264. When the display 212 is expandedor reduced, the first structure 210 may be guided and moved via thefirst hinge plate 261.

A roller 262 may guide or support the multi-bar 263 such that themulti-bar 263 is capable of moving within a specific radius. The roller262 may be connected to the second hinge plate fixing part 264 a or thefirst hinge plate 261.

The multi-bar 263 may be formed as a plurality of straight bars. Themulti-bar 263 may support at least part of the second surface 2122 ofthe display 212. One side of the multi-bar 263 may be connected to thesecond hinge plate 264 and the other side thereof may be connected tothe first structure 210.

The second hinge plate 264 may support the third surface 2123 of thedisplay 212. The second hinge plate 264 may move in conjunction with themulti-bar 263 such that the screen is capable of being expanded when thedisplay 212 is expanded. The second hinge plate 264 may be implementedindependent of the second hinge plate fixing part 264 a. The secondhinge plate 264 may be fixed to slide inside of the first structure 210.

The second structure 220 may be formed to surround at least part of thefirst structure 210, the second hinge plate 264, and the multi-bar 263.According to an embodiment, the second structure 220 may include thesecond plate 221, a first sidewall 2211 extending to the second plate221, a second sidewall 2212 extending to the first sidewall 2211 and thesecond plate 221, and a third sidewall 2213 extending to the firstsidewall 2211 and the second plate 221 and parallel to the secondsidewall 2212. The second structure 220 may form a space foraccommodating the antenna in a space in which the multi-bar 263 does notoverlap the second structure 220. The second structure 220 may includethe second rear plate 280 that shields at least part of the thirdsurface 2123 of the display 212.

When it is not necessary to display information on the third surface2123 of the display 212, the second rear plate 280 may be formed byincluding a material that does not pass through light (i.e., an opaquematerial). For another example, the second rear plate 280 may be formedof a material through which light passes, such that information iscapable of being displayed on the third surface 2123 of the display 212.The second rear plate 280 may be integrally formed with the secondstructure 220.

The support member 240 may be interposed between the printed circuitboard 230 and the first rear plate 250.

At least one of a processor, a memory, and an interface may be mountedon the printed circuit board 230. For example, the processor may includeat least one of a central processing unit, an application processor, agraphic processing device, an image signal processor, a sensor hubprocessor, and a communication processor. For example, the memory mayinclude at least one of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. Forexample, the interface may include at least one of a high definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI), a USB interface, a secure digital (SD) cardinterface, and an audio interface. The interface may electrically orphysically connect, for example, the electronic device 200 to anexternal electronic device and may include at least one of a USBconnector, an SD card/multimedia card (MMC) connector, and an audioconnector.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronicdevice, according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a userinterface associated with an AOD state setting of an electronic device,according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a shape fordetermining a closed state or an open state of an electronic device,according to an embodiment.

An electronic device 300, as described in FIG. 3, may include thefunctional or structural features of the electronic device 100 or 200described above in FIG. 1A, 1B, 1C, or 2, or may include the same orsimilar components. Alternatively, the electronic device 300 may furtherinclude at least another component that is not mentioned with respect toelectronic device 100 or 200.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device 300 includes at least one ofa communication circuit 310, a memory 320, a processor 330, a display340, and a sensor hub 350. According to various embodiments, theelectronic device 300 may omit at least one of the above-describedcomponents or may further include additional components. For example,the electronic device 300 may further include a power supply device(e.g., battery) that supplies power to the components, or may furtherinclude components of an electronic device 1101 to be described withreference to FIG. 11.

In an embodiment, the electronic device 300 may operate in an activestate (or a wake-up state) where a user is capable of operating aninstalled function or service without restrictions, and in an inactivestate (or a sleep state) of waiting for the user's operation of theelectronic device 300. In the active state, the components of theelectronic device 300 may receive sufficient power to perform acorresponding functional operation. For example, the display 340 maydisplay various content corresponding to a user control or specifiedscheduling information at a high resolution (e.g., full color) byreceiving a sufficient amount of power. In the case of the inactivestate, at least part of the components of the electronic device 300 maybe inactivated not to perform the corresponding functional operation ormay receive a minimum amount of power to perform only a limitedfunctional operation. For example, the display 340 may display limitedinformation (e.g., time, date, or an event notification) in the screenarea, by operating at low power.

The communication circuit 310 may support communication between theelectronic device 300 and at least one external device 400. For example,the communication circuit 310 may establish a network 500 according to adefined protocol with at least one external device 400 and maytransmit/receive a signal or data to/from at least one external device400 based on the connection of the network 500 via wired communicationor wireless communication. In various embodiments, the at least oneexternal device 400 may not be limited as long as the at least oneexternal device 400 is capable of transmitting/receiving a signal (e.g.,call) or data to/from the electronic device 400 and may include, forexample, an electronic device or a server of a similar type as ordifferent from the electronic device 300.

The memory 320 may store data associated with the operation of theelectronic device 300 or may store at least one instruction associatedwith the functional operations of components of the electronic device300. For example, the memory 320 may store various data received fromthe at least one external device 400 and may load data or commandsstored under the control of the processor 330. Alternatively, the memory320 may store at least one application 321 that is mounted in apreloaded form in the manufacturing of the electronic device 300 or isdownloaded from an online market (e.g., an app store).

In an embodiment, in a state where the display 340 operates at low powerdepending on the inactive state of the electronic device 300 (i.e., theAOD state), when the screen area of the display 340 is expanded (or whenthe electronic device 300 of the inactive state is open), at least partof the at least one application 321 may be configured to displayinformation associated with a corresponding application through thespecified screen area. In this regard, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, theprocessor 330 may display the list of at least one application 321included in the electronic device 300, on a user interface 10 associatedwith the system settings of the electronic device 300. The user mayselect at least one application on the user interface 10, and thus mayset brief or detailed information associated with the selectedapplication so as to be displayed via the specified screen area when theelectronic device 300 of the inactive state is opened (e.g., the firststructure 210 of FIG. 2 is opened with respect to the second structure220 of FIG. 2) and then the screen area of the display 340 in the AODstate is expanded. In an embodiment, the processor 330 may establish atleast one application selected from the user in the user interface 10into a database 323 and may store the established result in the memory320.

The processor 330 may be implemented with at least one of a centralprocessing unit, an application processor, or a communication processorand may control the components of the electronic device 300. Accordingto an embodiment, the processor 330 may be activated or inactivated inresponse to an active state (or a wake-up state) or an inactive state(or a sleep state) of the electronic device 300. The processor 330 inthe active state may transmit commands associated with a functionaloperation to a component of the electronic device 300 or may performcommunication operations or data processing. For example, in a statewhere the electronic device 300 is inactive, the processor 330 in theactive state may define a content (e.g., an object such as a text, animage, an icon, or a symbol) to be displayed via the display 340 in theAOD state (e.g., the size, display coordinate value, or color) and maystore the related data or command in a first memory 343 and/or secondmemory 347 included in at least one of a first display driver IC 341and/or second display driver IC 345.

The display 340 may display various pieces of content. For example, thedisplay 340 may display the operation screen (e.g., a home screen or theexecution screen of the application 321) of the electronic device 300 inresponse to the user control or the specified scheduling information. Inan embodiment, in the inactive state (or sleep state) of the electronicdevice, the display 340 may display content corresponding to specificinformation (e.g., time, date, or event notification) defined (or setfrom the user) from the processor 330, by operating in the AOD state. Inthis operation, the pixels of the display 340 corresponding to thedisplay coordinates of the content may emit the content in a specifiedfirst color (e.g., white), and the remaining pixels may be emitted in aspecified second color (e.g., black) or may be turned off.

In an embodiment, the display 340 may be implemented with a touch screendisplay including a display panel, a cover glass, and a touch panel (atouch sensor). The display panel may receive the driving signalcorresponding to content information at a specified frame rate and maydisplay the related screen based on the driving signal. The cover glassmay be disposed on top surface of the display panel to transmit lightaccording to the screen indication of the display panel. Moreover, auser input (e.g., touch, drag, press, or hovering) by a user's body(e.g., finger) or an electronic pen may be applied to at least one areaof the cover glass. The touch panel may detect a signal according to auser input (e.g., electrostatic detection, pressure sensitive detection,infrared detection, or ultrasonic detection) to output the detectedsignal as an electrical signal and may transmit information about theelectrical signal to a touch controller (e.g., a touch IC).

In an embodiment, the display 340 may include at least one first displaydriver IC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 that transmits thedriving signal to the display panel. The at least one first displaydriver IC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 is electricallyconnected to the display panel and may transmit content data receivedfrom the processor 330 (or content data stored in the first memory 343and/or second memory 347) to the display panel. In this operation, whenthe electronic device 300 is in an active state (or a wake-up state),the at least one first display driver IC 341 and/or second displaydriver IC 345 may transmit content data to the display panel at aspecified first frame rate; when the electronic device 300 is in aninactive state (or a sleep state), the at least one first display driverIC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 may transmit content data tothe display panel at a second frame rate lower than the first framerate.

In an embodiment, in a state where the electronic device 300 isinactive, the at least one first display driver IC 341 and/or seconddisplay driver IC 345 may operate itself and may control contentdisplayed via the display 340 in the AOD state, using the content datastored in the first memory 343 and/or second memory 347. In this regard,while the electronic device 300 in the inactive state is in the closedor open state, the at least one first display driver IC 341 and/orsecond display driver IC 345 may include the first display driver IC 341that controls content display of a specified area (e.g., a first area)in the screen area of the display 340 in the AOD state. Alternatively,while the electronic device 300 in the inactive state is in an openstate, the at least one first display driver IC 341 and/or seconddisplay driver IC 345 may include the second display driver IC 345 thatcontrols the content display of a screen area (e.g., a second area or athird area), which is different from the screen area managed by thefirst display driver IC 341, in the screen area of the display 340 inthe AOD state. As such, the content data, which is transmitted from theprocessor 330 and which is to be output through the display 340 in theAOD state, may be stored, in the first memory 343 included in the firstdisplay driver IC 341 or in the second memory 347 included in the seconddisplay driver IC 345, depending on the display area. The at least onefirst display driver IC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 mayconvert the content data stored in the first memory 343 and/or secondmemory 347 into a video signal and may transmit the video signal to thedisplay panel, based on the specified scheduling information.

According to various embodiments, the at least one first display driverIC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 may be integrated into asingle display driver IC (e.g., the first display driver IC 341). Inthis case, the single display driver IC may separately process thecontent displayed for the screen area (e.g., a first area) managed bythe above-described first display driver IC 341 and the screen area(e.g., a second area or a third area) managed by the second displaydriver IC 345. Furthermore, the single display driver IC may include afirst sub memory 343 and a second sub memory 347 for individuallystoring content data according to each screen area. In variousembodiments, the first sub memory and the second sub memory included inthe single display driver IC may be implemented as a plurality ofmodules physically separated. Alternatively, the first sub memory andthe second sub memory included in the single display driver IC may beintegrated into a single sub memory (e.g., the first sub memory 343),and the single sub memory may include a plurality of storage areaslogically separated, for the purpose of individually storing contentdata according to each screen area. Hereinafter, in a state (or sleepstate) where the electronic device 300 is inactive, the at least onecontent displayed via the display 340 in the AOD state may be referredto as an AOD object.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the sensor hub 350 may be electrically oroperatively connected to the at least one first display driver IC 341and/or second display driver IC 345 to determine the closed state oropen state of the electronic device 300. In this regard, the sensor hub350 may include a dielectric substance 351 disposed in the lower area(e.g., one area of a second plate 321 of a second structure 322 of thedisplay. The dielectric substance 351 may have a unique dielectricconstant different from that of each of the surrounding components, andthe sensor hub 350 may determine the closed state or open state of theelectronic device 300, by detecting the coordinates or pixel change inthe display that contacts or approaches the dielectric substance 351 viaa touch controller (e.g., touch IC). The sensor hub 350 may transmit thedetermined information to the at least one first display driver IC 341and/or second display driver IC 345. The sensor hub may also be referredto as a sensor circuit or a low-power processor.

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating an AOD object display form of anelectronic device in a closed state, according to an embodiment. FIG. 6Bis a flowchart illustrating an AOD object displaying method 600 b of anelectronic device in a closed state, according to an embodiment.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, an electronic device 300 a may be in an inactive (ora sleep state) state and a closed state (e.g., a state where the firststructure 210 of FIG. 2 is in a closed state with respect to the secondstructure 220 of FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 6A, the electronic device 300 a may output an AODobject (e.g., a text or a number) such as a time or date, via thedisplay 340 in the AOD state. For example, the first display driver IC341 of FIG. 3 that takes the place of a processor 330 of FIG. 3 may beinactivated depending on the inactive state of the electronic device 300a and may display the AOD object in a specified first area 20 of thescreen area of the display 340 in the AOD state, using content datastored in the first memory 343 of FIG. 3. In an embodiment, the variousareas (e.g., a second area, a third area, and a fourth area) describedbelow may be logically separated virtual areas, in addition to the firstarea 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in operation 601, in a state of displayingan AOD object, the electronic device 300 a receives data (e.g., amessage) associated with the operation of an application (e.g., amessage application) included in the electronic device 300 a, from theat least one external device 400 of FIG. 3.

In operation 603, the processor 330 in an inactive state is temporarilytransitioned to an active state with regard to the processing of thereceived data. The activated processor 330 may identify the applicationassociated with the received data.

In operation 605, the processor 330 in the active state transmits thefirst content (e.g., a message application icon) data corresponding tothe identified application to the first memory 343 to provide anotification of the data reception, and the first content data is storedin the first memory 343.

In operation 607 and operation 609, after the processor 330 in an activestate reads out the received data and then transmits the correspondingsecond content (e.g., a message text) data to the second memory 347 ofFIG. 3, the second content is stored in the second memory 347 and theprocessor 330 is transitioned to the inactive state again.

In operation 611, as the processor 330 transitions to the inactivestate, the first display driver IC 341 that processes the output of datastored in the first memory 343 displays (outputs) a first AOD object 11(e.g., a message application icon) via the display 340. For example, thefirst display driver IC 341 may output the first AOD object 11 in onearea within the first area 20, by transmitting the first content datastored in the first memory 343 to the display panel.

In an embodiment, when the application identified by the processor 330in the active state corresponds to the application (e.g., an applicationconfigured to display additional information through a specified area,when the electronic device 300 a of the inactive state is opened and thescreen area of the display 340 in the AOD state is expanded) included inthe database 323 of the memory 320 of FIG. 3, the first AOD object 11may be processed with a specified display effect (e.g., blinkprocessing) or may include a first display object 21 (e.g., bar) of aspecified shape.

In an embodiment, the specified user input may be applied to the firstAOD object 11 displayed in the first area 20. In this operation, theelectronic device 300 a in the inactive state (or sleep state) maydetect a user input applied to the first AOD object 11, based on theminimum power consumption. The user input may include, for example, atleast one touch and at least one touch release. In this regard, data(e.g., a digital value) of the at least one touch and the at least onetouch release of the display coordinates of the first AOD object 11 maybe stored in advance in a register (e.g., a storage area where thespecified data is capable of being written) included in the touchcontroller (e.g., touch IC). The touch controller may compare the dataof the user input applied to the first AOD object 11 with data of the atleast one touch and the at least one touch release stored in theregister; when the data of the user input corresponds to the data of atleast one touch and at least one touch release, the touch controller maytransmit the data of the user input to the processor 330 in the inactivestate. As such, the processor 330 in the inactive state may betransitioned to the active state to control the electronic device 300 ato switch to the active state (or a wake-up state). Furthermore, theprocessor 330 transitioned to the active state may release the AOD stateof the display 340 and may display the execution and associated screen(e.g., dialog interface) of the identified application at a highresolution (e.g., full color) in connection with the processing of theuser input applied to the first AOD object 11.

FIG. 7A is a view illustrating an AOD object display form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 7A, the electronic device 300 a and electronic device 300 b maybe in an inactive state (or a sleep state), the electronic device 300 amay be in a closed state; and the electronic device 300 b may be in anopen state.

The electronic device 300 b in the open state may display an AOD objectsuch as time or a date, in a fourth area 50, the location of which islower than that of the first area 20 of the electronic device 300 a inthe closed state. Alternatively, the electronic device 300 b in the openstate may display the AOD object in the first area 20, the location ofwhich is the same as that of the first area 20 of the electronic device300 a in the closed state. For example, the first display driver IC 341of FIG. 3 may display the AOD object in the fourth area 50 or the firstarea 20, using the content data stored in the first memory 343 of FIG.3.

In an operation of displaying an AOD object such as the time or date,the electronic device 300 b in the open state may receive data (e.g., amessage) associated with the operation of an application (e.g., amessage application), from at least one external device 400 of FIG. 3.In this case, the processor 330 of FIG. 3 in the inactive state may betemporarily transitioned to the active state to identify the applicationassociated with the received data. For the purpose of providing anotification of the data reception, after the activated processor 330transmits the first content (e.g., message application icon) dataassociated with the identified application to the first sub memory 343and then transmits the second content (e.g., a message text) dataaccording to the reading of the received data, to the second memory 347of FIG. 3, the activated processor 330 may be transitioned to theinactive state.

As the processor 330 transitions to the inactive state, the firstdisplay driver IC 341 may output the first AOD object 11 (e.g., amessage application icon) in one area within the fourth area 50 or thefirst area 20, by transmitting the first content data stored in thefirst memory 343 to the display panel. Furthermore, as the seconddisplay driver IC 345 of FIG. 3 receives information or a signalindicating that electronic device 300 b is in an open state, from thesensor hub 350 of FIG. 3, the second display driver IC 345 of FIG. 3 maydisplay a second AOD object 31 (e.g., a message text) in a second area30 corresponding to the upper portion of the fourth area 50 or a thirdarea 40 corresponding to the lower portion of the first area 20. In anembodiment, when the second AOD object 31 is displayed in the secondarea 30 or the third area 40, a second display object 22 (e.g., anarrow) of a specified shape may be further displayed in an adjacent areaof the first display object 21 (e.g., bar) included in the first AODobject 11. According to an embodiment, the display of the second displayobject 22 may indicate that the second AOD object 31 of the applicationassociated with the first AOD object 11 is displayed in the second area30 or the third area 40.

The second AOD object 31 may be displayed when data associated with theoperation of an application (e.g., a message application) is receivedfrom at least one external device 400, in a state where the electronicdevice 300 b in the open state displays an AOD object such as a time ordate in the fourth area 50 or the first area 20. However, the second AODobject 31 may be displayed when the electronic device 300 a transitionsto the open state, in a state where the electronic device 300 a of FIG.6A in the closed state receives data associated with the operation ofthe application from the at least one external device 400 to display thefirst AOD object 11 of FIG. 6A.

In various embodiments, the first display driver IC 341 and the seconddisplay driver IC 345 may be integrated into a single display driver IC(e.g., the first display driver IC 341). In this case, after the singledisplay driver IC displays the AOD object (e.g., a text, a number, asymbol, or an icon indicating time, a date, or an event notification) inthe fourth area 50 or the first area 20, using the content data storedin the first memory 343, the single display driver IC may display theAOD object (e.g., the content of the application associated with theevent notification) in the second area 30 or the third area 40, usingthe content data stored in the second memory 347 based on the stateinformation of the electronic device 300 b received from the sensor hub350.

FIG. 7B is a view illustrating an AOD object switch form of anelectronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment. FIG. 7Cis a view illustrating an AOD object operation form of an electronicdevice in an open state, according to an embodiment. FIG. 7D is aflowchart illustrating a method 700 d of switching and operating an AODobject of an electronic device in an open state, according to anembodiment.

In FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D, the electronic device 300 a and the electronicdevice 300 b may be in an inactive state (or a sleep state), theelectronic device 300 a may be in a closed state; and the electronicdevice 300 b may be in an open state. Furthermore, according to FIGS.7B, 7C, and 7D, the above-described second AOD object (e.g., a messagetext) is displayed in the second area substantially corresponding to theupper end of the screen area of the expanded display.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the first display driver IC 341 of FIG. 3 mayoutput an AOD object such as time, a date, or an event notification inthe screen area of the display 340 of FIG. 3 in an AOD state, dependingon the inactive state of the electronic device 300 a. In this operation,when the electronic device 300 a in the closed state transitions to theopen state, the second display driver IC 345 of FIG. 3 may display thesecond AOD object 31 (e.g., a message text) of the applicationassociated with the event notification (e.g., message application icon)in the second area 30 in a state where the inactive state of theprocessor 330 is maintained.

In an embodiment, in a state where the second AOD object 31 is output bythe second display driver IC 345, the electronic device 300 b mayreceive other data (e.g., a new message) associated with the operationof the application, from at least one external device 400 of FIG. 3. Inthis case, the processor 330 of FIG. 3 in the inactive state may betemporarily activated to read out the other data and may transmit thecontent data (e.g., a new message text) to the second sub memory 347 ofFIG. 3 according to the read out. The second display driver IC 345 mayupdate the second area 30 by displaying a third AOD object 32 in thesecond area 30 using the content data stored in the second memory 347.

In an embodiment, in an operation of displaying the second AOD object31, the second display driver IC 345 may further display a fourth AODobject 41 (e.g., a tap button) in an area adjacent to the second area30. The content data for the fourth AOD object 41 may be stored togetherin an operation in which the processor 330 in the active state storesthe content data associated with the second AOD object 31 in the secondmemory 347.

According to an embodiment, when the specified user input is applied tothe fourth AOD object 41, the operation of the application associatedwith the second AOD object 31 may be supported. In this regard, data(e.g., a digital value) of at least one touch and at least one touchrelease of the display coordinates of the fourth AOD object 41 may bestored in advance in a register included in the touch controller (e.g.,touch IC), similar to the method of detecting a user input to the firstAOD object 11 of FIG. 6A. The touch controller may compare the data ofthe user input applied to the fourth AOD object 41 with the touch andtouch release data stored in the register; when the data of the userinput corresponds to the touch and touch release data, the touchcontroller may transmit the data of the user input to the processor 330in an inactive state. The processor 330 activated based on the userinput data from the touch controller may switch the second AOD object 31(or the third AOD object 32) displayed in the second area 30 to content60 (e.g., a dialog interface) supported by a related application (e.g.,a message application). In this operation, the processor 330 in theactive state may control the display 340 of FIG. 3 (or a display panel)such that the content 60 is displayed in a non-AOD state (or at highresolution).

Referring to FIG. 7C, the content 60 displayed in the second area 30 mayinclude an input field 61 in which a user input is capable of beingwritten. In an embodiment, when a specified user input (e.g., a longpress) is applied to the input field 61, the processor 330 in the activestate may output a software input panel (SIP) keyboard 62 in a non-AODstate. The processor 330 in the active state may reflect and display 63the user input received through the SIP keyboard 62, incorporating itinto the content 60.

In an embodiment, when the reception of a user input through the SIPkeyboard 62 is completed, the processor 330 in the active state maytransmit user input data to the second memory 347. For example, afterthe processor 330 in the active state reconfigures the user input datainto an AOD object (or the third AOD object 32) in the form the same asor similar to the second AOD object 31 (e.g., font color, font design,or font size) and then transmits the reconfigured result to the secondmemory 347, the processor 330 in the active state may be transitioned toan inactive state. As the processor 330 is inactivated, the content 60displayed in the second area 30 may disappear; the second display driverIC 345 may update the second area 30 by further displaying a fifth AODobject 33 in the second area 30, using the content data of thereconfigured AOD object stored in the second memory 347.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D, in operation701, as the electronic device 300 a is in an inactive state, the firstdisplay driver IC 341 outputs (i.e., displays) an AOD object such as atime, date, or event notification via the display 340 in an AOD state.

In an embodiment, when the electronic device 300 a in the closed statetransitions to the open state, the second display driver IC 345 maydisplay the second AOD object 31 (e.g., a message text) of theapplication associated with the event notification (e.g., a messageapplication icon) in the specified second area 30 of the screen area ofthe display 340 in the AOD state, using the content data stored in thesecond sub memory 347. Moreover, the second display driver IC 345 maydisplay the fourth AOD object 41 supporting the operation of theapplication, in an area adjacent to the second area 30.

In operation 703, the touch controller (e.g., touch IC) determineswhether a user input to the fourth AOD object 41 occurs. For example,the touch controller may determine the user input applied to the fourthAOD object 41 by comparing the data of an arbitrary user input appliedto the screen area of the display 340 in the AOD state with the touchdata of the display coordinates of the fourth AOD object 41.

When it is determined that a user input is applied to the fourth AODobject 41, in operation 705, the processor 330 that is in an inactivestate is activated depending on the inactive state of the electronicdevice 300 b.

In operation 707, the activated processor 330 switches and displays thesecond AOD object 31 displayed in the second area 30 into the content 60(e.g., a dialog interface in a non-AOD state) supported by theapplication, in response to the user input applied to the fourth AODobject 41.

In operation 709, the activated processor 330 receives a user input tooperate the content 60 (or application). In this regard, the activatedprocessor 330 may output the SIP keyboard 62 in a non-AOD state inresponse to a specified user input (e.g., long press) applied to theinput field 61 of the content 60 and may receive a user input via theSIP keyboard 62. The activated processor 330 may reflect and display thereceived user input into the content 60.

In operation 711, the activated processor 330 determines whether thereception of a user input via the SIP keyboard 62 is completed. Forexample, when a user input is not applied to the SIP keyboard 62 duringa specified time or when a specified hardware key (e.g., a power key) ismanipulated by a user after receiving the user input, the activatedprocessor 330 may determine that the user input via the SIP keyboard 62is completed. The processor 330 in the active state may reconfigure thedata of the user input into content data of the AOD object type and maystore the reconfigured result in the second memory 347.

In operation 713, as it is determined that the user input to operate thecontent 60 (or application) is completed, the processor 330 in theactive state is transitioned to an inactive state.

In operation 715, the content 60 disappears in response to thedeactivation of the processor 330, and the fifth AOD object 33 accordingto the user input is added and displayed in the second area 30. Forexample, the second display driver IC 345 may update the second area 30by displaying the fifth AOD object 33 according to the user input, inthe second area 30 using the content data reconfigured in the form ofthe AOD object stored in the second memory 347.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are views illustrating an AOD object switch form ofan electronic device in an open state, according to an embodiment.

In FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, the electronic device 300 a and the electronicdevice 300 b may be in an inactive state (or a sleep state), theelectronic device 300 a may be in a closed state; and the electronicdevice 300 b may be in an open state. Furthermore, in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and8C, it may be understood that the AOD object (e.g., a message text, aweather information text, a number or a symbol, a schedule informationtext, or a number) output in response to the opening of the electronicdevice 300 b is displayed in the second area substantially correspondingto the upper end of the screen area of the expanded display.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in a state where the electronic device 300 a isclosed and inactive, the first display driver IC 341 of FIG. 3 maydisplay the AOD content, such as a text, a number, a time or a date, inthe specified first area 20 of the screen area of the AOD state display340 of FIG. 3 using the content data stored in the first memory 343 ofFIG. 3. In this operation, the electronic device 300 a may receive firstdata (e.g., a message) associated with the operation of the firstapplication (e.g., a message application) from a first external device.Moreover, the electronic device 300 a may receive second data (e.g.,weather information) associated with the operation of the secondapplication (e.g., a weather application) from a second external device,at a similar point in time as when the first data is received, or afteran arbitrary time from reception of the first data. In variousembodiments, the sequence for receiving the first data and the seconddata may be changed.

In an embodiment, the processor 330 of FIG. 3 in an inactive state maybe temporarily activated to process the data or to provide anotification of data reception. For example, when the second data isreceived in an operation of processing the first data, the activatedprocessor 330 may process both the first data and second data during theactive state. Alternatively, when there is an interval between thereception of the first data and the reception of the second data, theactivated processor 330 may be transitioned to an inactive state afterprocessing the first data and may be activated again at the time of thereception of the second data, and then may be transitioned to theinactive state after processing the second data. The processor 330 inthe active state may identify the applications associated with thereceived pieces of data with regard to the processing of the first andsecond data and may transmit first content (e.g., a message applicationicon and a weather application icon) data of each of the identifiedapplications, to the first memory 343 of FIG. 3. Furthermore, theprocessor 330 in an active state may read the received data to transmitthe second content (e.g., a message text and a weather information text,a number, or a symbol) data of each of the first data and the seconddata to the second memory 347 of FIG. 3, and then may be transition toan inactive state.

In an embodiment, as the processor 330 is transitioned to an inactivestate, the first display driver IC 341 may output a plurality of firstAOD objects 11 and 12 (e.g., a message application icon 11 and a weatherapplication icon 12) in one area within the first area 20 using thepieces of first content data stored in the first memory 343. Each of theplurality of first AOD objects 11 and 12 may be processed with aspecified display effect (e.g., blink processing) or may include firstdisplay objects 21 a and 21 b of a specified shape. In an embodiment,the user of an electronic device 300 a may apply a user input to aspecific first AOD object (e.g., a weather application icon 12) toidentify one of the received first data and the received second data. Inthis case, the first display driver IC 341 may further display a seconddisplay object 22 a (e.g., an arrow) of a specified shape in theadjacent area of the first display object 21 a included in the specificfirst AOD object 12, using the content data stored in the first memory343.

According to an embodiment, after receiving the user input, theelectronic device 300 a in the closed state may be transitioned to theopen state by a user's manipulation. In this case, the second displaydriver IC 345 of FIG. 3 may transmit the second content (e.g., a weatherinformation text, a number, or a symbol) data associated with thespecific first AOD object 12, to which a user input is applied, fromamong pieces of second content (e.g., a message text, a weatherinformation text, a number or a symbol) data stored in the second memory347, to the display panel based on the reception of the information orsignal indicating that the electronic device 300 b is in an open statefrom sensor hub 350 of FIG. 3. As such, a sixth AOD object 34 (e.g., aweather information text, a number, or a symbol) according to theprocessing of the second content data may be displayed in the secondarea 30.

In an embodiment, the user of the electronic device 300 b may apply aspecified user input (e.g., a long press) to one area within the secondarea 30 to operate an application (e.g., a weather application)associated with the sixth AOD object 34. In this case, theabove-described touch controller (e.g., touch IC) may compare the dataof the user input with touch data (e.g., a digital value) stored inadvance in a register with respect to the second area 30; when the dataof the user input corresponds to the touch data, the touch controllermay transmit the user input data to the processor 330 in the inactivestate. The processor 330 in the inactive state may be activated based onuser input data transmitted from the touch controller and may displaycontent 70, which is supported by the application (e.g., a weatherapplication), in the second area 30 in a non-AOD state (or highresolution).

Referring to FIG. 8B, as described above, when pieces of data (e.g.,first data (a message) and second data (weather information)) arereceived from a plurality of external devices (e.g., the first externaldevice and the second external device), the second area 30 may becomposed of a plurality of sections. Switching between the plurality ofsections may be specified by a plurality of seventh AOD objects 35displayed in one area within the second area 30. For example, theplurality of seventh AOD objects 35 may be respectively mapped to theplurality of sections; when a section is switched depending on usercontrol, the seventh AOD object 35 corresponding to the focused sectionmay be processed with a specified display effect (e.g., blink processingor color processing).

According to an embodiment, in an operation of displaying the sixth AODobject 34 associated with a first AOD object 12 selected by a user inthe second area 30, the user may switch the section of the second area30. For example, the user may perform a specified user input (e.g.,sweep in one direction) within the second area 30 or may select (e.g.,touch) one of the plurality of seventh AOD objects 35 to switch thesection of the second area 30. In this case, the second display driverIC 345 may transmit second content (e.g., message text) data stored inthe second memory 347, to a display panel such that another AOD objectassociated with the first AOD object (e.g., the message application icon11) is displayed in the switched section of the second area 30 inaddition to the first AOD object (e.g., the weather application icon 12)selected by the user. As such, the second AOD object 31 and/or the thirdAOD object 32 according to the processing of the second content data maybe displayed in the switched section of the second area 30. Furthermore,the first display driver IC 341 may allow the second display object(e.g., 22 a), which is displayed in the adjacent area of the first AODobject (e.g., the weather application icon 12) (or the adjacent area ofthe first display object 21 a included in the selected first AOD object)selected from the user, to disappear. The first display driver IC 341may display the second display object 22 b in the adjacent area (or theadjacent area of the first display object 21 b included in the first AODobject other than the selected first AOD object) of a first AOD object(e.g., the message application icon 11) associated with the AOD objectdisplayed in the switched section of the second area 30.

Referring to FIG. 8C, the first display driver IC 341 may display atleast one first AOD object 36, 37, or 38 in an area substantiallycorresponding to the upper end of the display screen area of theelectronic device 300 a in a closed state. For example, the firstdisplay driver IC 341 may display the first AOD object 36, 37, or 38(e.g., an application icon) of the specified number of applicationsexecuted frequently by the user or the specified number of applicationsset by the user, regardless of the reception of data from an externaldevice. In an embodiment, when a specified user input (e.g., touch) isapplied to one (e.g., the calendar application icon 37) of the displayedfirst AOD object 36, 37, or 38, the first display driver IC 341 maydisplay the first display object 21 in the adjacent area of the firstAOD object 37 to which the user input is applied.

According to an embodiment, in a state wherein at least one of thedisplayed first AOD objects 36, 37, or 38 are selected from the user,when the electronic device 300 b is transitioned to an open state, thesecond display driver IC 345 may display an eighth AOD object 39 (e.g.,a schedule information text, a number or a symbol) associated with theselected first AOD object 37, in the second area 30. In an embodiment,when a specified user input (e.g., long press) is applied to the secondarea 30 or one area of the eighth AOD object 39, the processor 330 in aninactive state may be activated. The activated processor 330 may outputcontent 75, which is supported by an application (e.g., a calendarapplication) associated with the eighth AOD object 39 in the second area30 in a non-AOD state (or high resolution).

FIGS. 9A to 9E are views illustrating various operation examples of anexpanded screen area of an electronic device in an open state, accordingto an embodiment.

In FIGS. 9A to 9E, an electronic device 300 c and an electronic device300 d are in an active state (or a wake-up state), the electronic device300 c is in an open state, and the electronic device 300 d is in aclosed state. Furthermore, in FIGS. 9B to 9E, a display screen area thatis expanded based on the open of the electronic device 300 c may bereferred to as an area substantially corresponding to the upper end withrespect to the electronic device 300 c.

Referring to FIG. 9A, in a state where the electronic device 300 d in anactivated and closed state outputs a first execution screen 80 aaccording to the execution of an arbitrary first application, theprocessor 330 of FIG. 3 in the active state may receive a specified userinput (e.g., a swipe applied upward from the lower area of theelectronic device 300 d or the first execution screen 80 a).Alternatively, in a state where the first execution screen 80 a isoutput, the processor 330 in the active state may receive a user inputapplied to a specified hardware key (e.g., a home button) or to asoftware key displayed in one area of the running first execution screen80 a. In this case, the processor 330 in the active state may reduce therunning (i.e., running in the foreground) of the first execution screen80 a at a specified ratio to display (or move) the reduced result in theupper area of the electronic device 300 c and may display a secondexecution screen 90 a according to an application in the background, inan area other than the reduced first execution screen 80 a. In anembodiment, the processor 330 in the active state may simultaneouslydisplay the first execution screen 80 a and the second execution screen90 a during a specified time; when the specified time elapses, theprocessor 330 in the active state may process the second executionscreen 90 a in the foreground and may process the first execution screen80 a in the background.

Referring to FIGS. 9B and 9C, where the electronic device 300 d is inthe activated and closed state, the electronic device 300 d outputs athird execution screen 90 b according to the execution of an arbitraryapplication, the electronic device 300 d in the closed state may betransitioned to the electronic device 300 c in an open state by usercontrol. In this case, when the processor 330 in the active stateoutputs the third execution screen 90 b, the processor 330 in the activestate may display a part of at least one fourth execution screen 80 b ofat least one application in the background in the screen area of theexpanded display 340 of FIG. 3. In an embodiment, when a specified timeelapses from when the part of the fourth execution screen 80 b isdisplayed, the processor 330 in the active state may exclude a partialdisplay of the fourth execution screen 80 b and may expand the thirdexecution screen 90 b, which has been output, at a specified ratio todisplay the expanded third execution screen 90 b in the form of a fullscreen.

In an embodiment, when the processor 330 in the active state displaysthe third execution screen 90 b in the form of a full screen, theprocessor 330 in the active state may receive a specified user input(e.g., swipe applied downward from the upper area of the electronicdevice 300 c or the third execution screen 90 b). In this case, theprocessor 330 in the active state may reduce the third execution screen90 b being displayed as a full screen at a specified ratio to displaythe reduced result, and may display a part of at least one fourthexecution screen 80 b of at least one application of the backgroundstate, in an area (or an expanded display area) other than the reducedthird execution screen 90 b. In an embodiment, when one of the at leastone fourth execution screen 80 b is selected from a user, the processor330 in the active state may display the selected fourth execution screen80 b in an area (or an expanded display screen area) other than thereduced third execution screen 90 b.

Referring to FIG. 9D, in a state where the electronic device 300 c inthe open state outputs a fifth execution screen 80 c and a sixthexecution screen 90 c according to the execution of arbitraryapplications at the same time, the processor 330 in the active state mayreceive a user input to exchange output locations of the fifth executionscreen 80 c and the sixth execution screen 90 c with each other. Forexample, when the processor 330 in the active state receives a longpress applied to the boundary area between the fifth execution screen 80c and the sixth execution screen 90 c during a specified time, andreceives a swipe in a direction (e.g., downward) applied to the area ofthe fifth execution screen 80 c or receives a swipe in a direction(e.g., upward) applied to the area of the sixth execution screen 90 c,the processor 330 in the active state may exchange output locations ofthe fifth execution screen 80 c and sixth execution screen 90 c andoutput (i.e., display) the fifth execution screen 80 c and sixthexecution screen 90 c according to the exchanged locations.

Referring to FIG. 9E, a seventh execution screen 90 d displayed in theexpanded display area of the electronic device 300 c in an open statemay be output in the second format at least partially different from thefirst format output by the electronic device 300 d in a closed state.For example, in the second format, the reduction of a specified ratio(e.g., 16:9) may be applied to the first format or the relocation of atleast one content included in the seventh execution screen 90 d may beapplied to the second format. In an embodiment, the reduction of thespecified ratio or the relocation of content may be designated by thepolicy of an application associated with the seventh execution screen 90d or may be designated by the user's settings.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a firststructure, a second structure, a flexible touch screen display layer, anapplication processor, at least one display driver integrated circuitoperatively connected to the flexible touch screen display layer and theapplication processor, and a memory operatively connected to the atleast one display driver integrated circuit.

The first structure may include a first surface and a second surfacefacing away from the first surface.

The second structure may include a second plate facing the secondsurface of the first plate, a first sidewall perpendicular to the secondplate, a second sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewall and thesecond plate, and a third sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewalland the second plate and parallel to the second sidewall.

The second plate, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the thirdsidewall may form a trough, one side of which is opened, together whichaccommodate at least part of the first structure.

The first structure may be capable of being moved, in a first directionparallel to the second plate and the second sidewall, between an openstate and a closed state with respect to the second structure, the firststructure in the closed state may be positioned at a first distance fromthe first sidewall, and the first structure in the open state may bepositioned at a second distance, which is greater than the firstdistance, from the first sidewall.

The flexible touch screen display layer may include a plane partextending to cross at least part of the first surface of the first plateand mounted on the first surface, and a bendable portion extending intoa space between the first sidewall of the second structure and the firststructure from the plane part in the closed state.

When the first structure is moved from the closed state to the openstate, at least part of the bendable portion may be pulled from thespace between the first sidewall of the second structure and the firststructure to substantially form a plane between the plane part and thefirst sidewall of the second structure, when viewed from above the firstplate.

The memory may store instructions that, when executed while theapplication processor is inactivated, cause the at least one displaydriver integrated circuit to display at least one first object in afirst area of the plane part of the flexible touch screen display layerin the closed state, and to display at least one second objectassociated with the first object in a second area of the plane part orin a third area of the bendable portion of the flexible touch screendisplay layer in the open state.

The first area may be positioned between the second area and the firstsidewall of the second structure, and the third area may be positionedbetween the first area and the first sidewall of the second structure.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to further display the first object in a fourth areacorresponding to a space between the first area and the first sidewallof the second structure, in the open state while the second object isdisplayed in the second area.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to move and display the first object from the first area to thefourth area, while the first structure is moved from the closed state tothe open state.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to further display the first object in the first area, in theopen state while the second object is displayed in the third area.

The first object may include at least one of a notification, timeinformation, and date information.

The second object may include at least part of content associated withthe first object.

The electronic device may further include a sensor circuit detectingmovement of the first structure for the second structure and operativelyconnected to the at least one display driver integrated circuit.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to receive a signal from the sensor circuit while theapplication processor is inactivated and to display the second objectbased at least partly on the signal.

The memory may further store at least one application program.

The instructions may cause the application processor, which is active,to store at least one first application program associated withdisplaying the at least one second object among the at least oneapplication program, in a database.

The instructions may cause the application processor, which is active,to output a user interface for receiving a user input to select the atleast one first application program.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to assign a specified display effect or a display object to theat least one first object while the application processor is inactive,when the at least one first object displayed in the closed state isassociated with the at least one first application program.

The instructions may cause the at least one display driver integratedcircuit to display at least one area of at least one of the plane partand the bendable portion of the flexible touch screen display layer, ina specified color while the application processor is inactive.

The at least one display driver integrated circuit may include a firstdisplay driver integrated circuit controlling the display of the atleast one first object for the first area and a second display driverintegrated circuit controlling the display of the at least one secondobject for the second area or the third area.

The at least one display driver integrated circuit may include a firstsub memory for storing data associated with the at least one firstobject and a second sub memory for storing data associated with the atleast one second object.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a firstplate, a second plate disposed under the first plate, a rollable moduleinterposed between the first plate and the second plate and disposed tomove the first plate between an open state and a closed state withrespect to the second plate, a flexible touch screen display disposed toextend from an upper portion of the first plate to a space between therollable module and the second plate, at least one display driverintegrated circuit, and a processor electrically connected to theflexible touch screen display and the at least one display driverintegrated circuit. At least part of the flexible touch screen displaymay be guided by the rollable module, and a screen area of the flexibletouch screen display may be expanded in the open state.

The at least one display driver integrated circuit may be configured todisplay at least one first object in a specified first area of thescreen area in a state where the processor is inactive and in a statewhere the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is notexpanded, and to display at least one second object associated with thefirst object in a second area corresponding to an upper portion of thespecified first area of an expanded screen area or in a third areacorresponding to a lower portion of the specified first area in a statewhere the processor is inactive and in a state where the screen area ofthe flexible touch screen display is expanded.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a flexibletouch screen display, a screen area of which is expanded depending onstructural transformation of the electronic device, at least one displaydriver integrated circuit, and a processor electrically connected to theflexible touch screen display and the at least one display driverintegrated circuit.

The at least one display driver integrated circuit may be configured todisplay at least one first object in a specified first area of thescreen area in a state where the processor is inactive and in a statewhere the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is notexpanded, and to display at least one second object associated with thefirst object, in a second area corresponding to an upper portion of thespecified first area of the expanded screen area or in a third areacorresponding to a lower portion of the specified first area in a statewhere the processor is inactive and in a state where the screen area ofthe flexible touch screen display is expanded.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a content displaying method 1000 ofan expandable screen area of an electronic device, according to anembodiment. The operations described with reference to FIG. 10 may beimplemented based on instructions capable of being stored in a computerrecording medium or the memory 320 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 10, in operation 1001, a processor 330 operates in anactive state. For example, the processor 330 may operate in an activestate in response to an electronic device 300 a or 300 b being in theactive state (or a wake-up state) and/or the closed state or open state.In an embodiment, in a state where the electronic device 300 a or 300 bis in an inactive state (or a sleep state), the processor 330 in theactive state may define content to be output through the display 340 ofFIG. 3 in an AOD state and may store the related content data in a firstmemory 343 and/or a second memory 347 included in at least one firstdisplay driver IC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345.

In operation 1003, the display 340 enters the AOD state. For example, asthe electronic device 300 a or 300 b operates in an inactive state, thedisplay 340 may enter the AOD state, which makes it possible to operateat low power. Also, the processor 330 may also be transitioned to aninactive state, in response to deactivation of the electronic device 300a or 300 b.

In operation 1005, the sensor hub 350 of FIG. 3 may determine the openstate or closed state of the electronic device 300 a or 300 b. Forexample, the sensor hub 350 may determine the open state or closed stateof the electronic device 300 a or 300 b by detecting the coordinates orpixel change of the display 312 that contacts or approaches dielectricsubstance 351 disposed on the lower area of the display 312.

In operation 1007, at least one first display driver IC 341 and/orsecond display driver IC 345 loads content data stored in the firstmemory 343 and/or second memory 347, depending on the inactive state ofthe electronic device 300 a or 300 b, to take the place of at least partof the functional operations of the processor 330 in an inactive state.For example, in the operation 1005, when it is determined that theelectronic device 300 a in an inactive state is in a closed state, thefirst display driver IC 341 of the at least one display driver IC mayload content data stored in the first memory 343 to transmit the loadedcontent data to a display panel. Alternatively, in the operation 1005,when it is determined that the electronic device 300 b in an inactivestate is in an open state, each of the first display driver IC 341 andsecond display driver IC 345 may load content data stored in the firstmemory 343 and the second memory 347 to transmit the loaded content datato the display panel.

In operation 1009, the display 340 (or the display panel) in an AODstate processes the content data transmitted from at least one firstdisplay driver IC 341 and/or second display driver IC 345 to output anAOD object to a specified area of a screen area. In this operation, thepixel of the display 340 corresponding to the display coordinates of theAOD object may be emitted in a specified first color (e.g., white), andthe remaining pixels may be emitted in a specified second color (e.g.,black) or may be turned off.

According to an embodiments, a method of displaying content of anexpandable screen area of an electronic device may include operating inan inactive state by the electronic device in an inactive state, in afirst state where the electronic device is inactive and where a screenarea of a display of the electronic device is not expanded, displayingat least one first object in a specified first area of the screen area,and in a second state where the electronic device is inactive and wherethe screen area of the display of the electronic device is expanded,displaying at least one second object associated with the first object,in a second area corresponding to an upper portion of the first area ofthe expanded screen area or in a third area corresponding to a lowerportion of the first area.

The method of displaying content may further include detecting expansionof the screen area of the display.

The displaying of the at least one second object may include determiningwhether to display the at least one second object, based at least partlyon the detecting.

The displaying of the at least one second object may include furtherdisplaying the at least one first object in a lower portion of thesecond area or in an upper portion of the third area while displayingthe at least one second object in the second area.

The displaying of the at least one second object may include furtherdisplaying the at least one first object in the first area whiledisplaying the at least one second object in the third area.

The displaying of the at least one first object may include assigning aspecified display effect or a display object to the at least one firstobject when an application program associated with the at least onefirst object corresponds to a specified first application program fordisplaying the at least one second object.

The displaying of the at least one first object or the displaying of theat least one second object may include displaying at least one area ofat least one of the screen area of the display, which is not expanded,or the screen area of the display, which is expanded, in a specifiedcolor.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device in a networkenvironment, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the electronic device 1101 in the networkenvironment 1100 may communicate with an electronic device 1102 via afirst network 1198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network),or an electronic device 1104 or a server 1108 via a second network 1199(e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to anembodiment, the electronic device 1101 may communicate with theelectronic device 1104 via the server 1108. According to an embodiment,the electronic device 1101 may include a processor 1120, memory 1130, aninput device 1150, a sound output device 1155, a display device 1160, anaudio module 1170, a sensor module 1176, an interface 1177, a hapticmodule 1179, a camera module 1180, a power management module 1188, abattery 1189, a communication module 1190, a subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) 1196, or an antenna module 1197. In some embodiments, atleast one (e.g., the display device 1160 or the camera module 1180) ofthe components may be omitted from the electronic device 1101, or one ormore other components may be added in the electronic device 1101. Insome embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as singleintegrated circuitry. For example, the sensor module 1176 (e.g., afingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may beimplemented as embedded in the display device 1160 (e.g., a display).

The processor 1120 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program1140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware orsoftware component) of the electronic device 1101 coupled with theprocessor 1120, and may perform various data processing or computation.According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing orcomputation, the processor 1120 may load a command or data received fromanother component (e.g., the sensor module 1176 or the communicationmodule 1190) in volatile memory 1132, process the command or the datastored in the volatile memory 1132, and store resulting data innon-volatile memory 1134. According to an embodiment, the processor 1120may include a main processor 1121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)or an application processor (AP)), and an auxiliary processor 1123(e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor(ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) thatis operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the mainprocessor 1121. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor1123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 1121,or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor 1123may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor1121.

The auxiliary processor 1123 may control at least some of functions orstates related to at least one component (e.g., the display device 1160,the sensor module 1176, or the communication module 1190) among thecomponents of the electronic device 1101, instead of the main processor1121 while the main processor 1121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep)state, or together with the main processor 1121 while the main processor1121 is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). Accordingto an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 1123 (e.g., an image signalprocessor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part ofanother component (e.g., the camera module 1180 or the communicationmodule 1190) functionally related to the auxiliary processor 1123.

The memory 1130 may store various data used by at least one component(e.g., the processor 1120 or the sensor module 1176) of the electronicdevice 1101. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g.,the program 1140) and input data or output data for a command relatedthereto. The memory 1130 may include the volatile memory 1132 or thenon-volatile memory 1134.

The program 1140 may be stored in the memory 1130 as software, and mayinclude, for example, an operating system (OS) 1142, middleware 1144, oran application 1146.

The input device 1150 may receive a command or data to be used by othercomponent (e.g., the processor 1120) of the electronic device 1101, fromthe outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 1101. The inputdevice 1150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, or akeyboard.

The sound output device 1155 may output sound signals to the outside ofthe electronic device 1101. The sound output device 1155 may include,for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used forgeneral purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record, and thereceiver may be used for an incoming calls. According to an embodiment,the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of thespeaker.

The display device 1160 may visually provide information to the outside(e.g., a user) of the electronic device 1101. The display device 1160may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projectorand control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display,hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the displaydevice 1160 may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, orsensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure theintensity of force incurred by the touch.

The audio module 1170 may convert a sound into an electrical signal andvice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 1170 may obtainthe sound via the input device 1150, or output the sound via the soundoutput device 1155 or a headphone of an external electronic device(e.g., an electronic device 1102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelesslycoupled with the electronic device 1101.

The sensor module 1176 may detect an operational state (e.g., power ortemperature) of the electronic device 1101 or an environmental state(e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 1101, andthen generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to thedetected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 1176 mayinclude, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphericpressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gripsensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, abiometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or anilluminance sensor.

The interface 1177 may support one or more specified protocols to beused for the electronic device 1101 to be coupled with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 1102) directly (e.g.,wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface 1177may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI),a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) cardinterface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminal 1178 may include a connector via which theelectronic device 1101 may be physically connected with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 1102). According to anembodiment, the connecting terminal 1178 may include, for example, aHDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audioconnector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module 1179 may convert an electrical signal into amechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electricalstimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation orkinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module1179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or anelectric stimulator.

The camera module 1180 may capture a still image or moving images.According to an embodiment, the camera module 1180 may include one ormore lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module 1188 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 1101. According to one embodiment, the powermanagement module 1188 may be implemented as at least part of, forexample, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 1189 may supply power to at least one component of theelectronic device 1101. According to an embodiment, the battery 1189 mayinclude, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, asecondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 1190 may support establishing a direct (e.g.,wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel betweenthe electronic device 1101 and the external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 1102, the electronic device 1104, or the server 1108)and performing communication via the established communication channel.The communication module 1190 may include one or more communicationprocessors that are operable independently from the processor 1120(e.g., the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g.,wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to anembodiment, the communication module 1190 may include a wirelesscommunication module 1192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, ashort-range wireless communication module, or a global navigationsatellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communicationmodule 1194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or apower line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of thesecommunication modules may communicate with the external electronicdevice via the first network 1198 (e.g., a short-range communicationnetwork, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, orinfrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network 1199 (e.g., along-range communication network, such as a cellular network, theInternet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)).These various types of communication modules may be implemented as asingle component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multicomponents (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wirelesscommunication module 1192 may identify and authenticate the electronicdevice 1101 in a communication network, such as the first network 1198or the second network 1199, using subscriber information (e.g.,international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in thesubscriber identification module 1196.

The antenna module 1197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to orfrom the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of theelectronic device 1101. According to an embodiment, the antenna module1197 may include one or more antennas, and, therefrom, at least oneantenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communicationnetwork, such as the first network 1198 or the second network 1199, maybe selected, for example, by the communication module 1190 (e.g., thewireless communication module 1192). The signal or the power may then betransmitted or received between the communication module 1190 and theexternal electronic device via the selected at least one antenna.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutuallyand communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via aninter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purposeinput and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted orreceived between the electronic device 1101 and the external electronicdevice 1104 via the server 1108 coupled with the second network 1199.Each of the electronic devices 1102 and 1104 may be a device of a sametype as, or a different type, from the electronic device 1101. Accordingto an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at theelectronic device 1101 may be executed at one or more of the externalelectronic devices 1102, 1104, or 1108. For example, if the electronicdevice 1101 should perform a function or a service automatically, or inresponse to a request from a user or another device, the electronicdevice 1101, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function orthe service, may request the one or more external electronic devices toperform at least part of the function or the service. The one or moreexternal electronic devices receiving the request may perform the atleast part of the function or the service requested, or an additionalfunction or an additional service related to the request, and transferan outcome of the performing to the electronic device 1101. Theelectronic device 1101 may provide the outcome, with or without furtherprocessing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request.To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-servercomputing technology may be used, for example.

The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one ofvarious types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include,for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), acomputer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medicaldevice, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According toan embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limitedto those described above.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the presentdisclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit thetechnological features set forth herein to particular embodiments andinclude various changes, equivalents, or replacements for acorresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of thedrawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar orrelated elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a nouncorresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unlessthe relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, eachof such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one ofA or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least oneof A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the itemsenumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As usedherein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may beused to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, anddoes not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance ororder). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a firstelement) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or“communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or“connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means thatthe element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g.,wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented inhardware, software, or firmware, and may interchangeably be used withother terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or“circuitry”. A module may be a single integral component, or a minimumunit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. Forexample, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in aform of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software(e.g., the program 1140) including one or more instructions that arestored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 1136 or externalmemory 1138) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device1101). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 1120) of themachine (e.g., the electronic device 1101) may invoke at least one ofthe one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and executeit, with or without using one or more other components under the controlof the processor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform atleast one function according to the at least one instruction invoked.The one or more instructions may include a code generated by a complieror a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storagemedium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium.Wherein, the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage mediumis a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., anelectromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate betweenwhere data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and wherethe data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments ofthe disclosure may be included and provided in a computer programproduct. The computer program product may be traded as a product betweena seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed inthe form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded)online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™), or between two userdevices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at leastpart of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or atleast temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such asmemory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store,or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or aprogram) of the above-described components may include a single entityor multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more ofthe above-described components may be omitted, or one or more othercomponents may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality ofcomponents (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a singlecomponent. In such a case, according to various embodiments, theintegrated component may still perform one or more functions of each ofthe plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they areperformed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components beforethe integration. According to various embodiments, operations performedby the module, the program, or another component may be carried outsequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or moreof the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, orone or more other operations may be added.

Accordingly, even when an electronic device operates in a sleep state,various pieces of information may be provided via a display operating atlow power.

Additionally, details of the information may be improved based on theexpansion of the size (or screen area) of a display operating atlow-power.

In addition, a variety of effects directly or indirectly understoodthrough this disclosure may be provided.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference tovarious embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a firststructure including a first plate, wherein the first plate includes afirst surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface; asecond structure including a second plate facing the second surface ofthe first plate, a first sidewall perpendicular to the second plate, asecond sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewall and the secondplate, and a third sidewall perpendicular to the first sidewall and thesecond plate and parallel to the second sidewall, wherein the secondplate, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewallform a trough to accommodate at least part of the first structure, andone side of the trough is opened, wherein the first structure is capableof being moved in a first direction parallel to the second plate and thesecond sidewall between an open state and a closed state with respect tothe second structure, wherein the first structure in the closed state ispositioned at a first distance from the first sidewall, and wherein thefirst structure in the open state is positioned at a second distance,which is greater than the first distance, from the first sidewall; aflexible touch screen display layer, wherein the flexible touch screendisplay layer includes: a plane part extending across at least part ofthe first surface of the first plate and mounted on the first surface;and a bendable portion extending into a space between the first sidewallof the second structure and the first structure from the plane part inthe closed state, wherein when the first structure is moved from theclosed state to the open state, at least part of the bendable portion ispulled from the space between the first sidewall of the second structureand the first structure to substantially form a plane between the planepart and the first sidewall of the second structure, when viewed fromabove the first plate; an application processor; at least one displaydriver integrated circuit operatively connected to the flexible touchscreen display layer and the application processor; and a memoryoperatively connected to the at least one display driver integratedcircuit, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executedwhile the application processor is inactivated, cause the at least onedisplay driver integrated circuit to: display at least one first objectin a first area of the plane part of the flexible touch screen displaylayer in the closed state; and display at least one second objectassociated with the first object in a second area of the plane part orin a third area of the bendable portion of the flexible touch screendisplay layer in the open state, wherein the first area is positionedbetween the second area and the first sidewall of the second structure,and the third area is positioned between the first area and the firstsidewall of the second structure.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the instructions further cause the at least one display driverintegrated circuit to: in the open state, while the second object isdisplayed in the second area, further display the first object in afourth area corresponding to a space between the first area and thefirst sidewall of the second structure.
 3. The electronic device ofclaim 2, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one displaydriver integrated circuit to: while the first structure is moved fromthe closed state to the open state, move and display the first objectfrom the first area to the fourth area.
 4. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one displaydriver integrated circuit to: in the open state, while the second objectis displayed in the third area, further display the first object in thefirst area.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the firstobject includes at least one of a notification, time information, anddate information, and wherein the second object includes at least partof content associated with the first object.
 6. The electronic device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a sensor circuit configured to detectmovement of the first structure for the second structure and operativelyconnected to the at least one display driver integrated circuit.
 7. Theelectronic device of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause theat least one display driver integrated circuit to: while the applicationprocessor is inactivated, receive a signal from the sensor circuit; anddisplay the second object based at least partly on the signal.
 8. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores at leastone application program, and wherein the instructions cause theapplication processor, which is active, to: store at least one firstapplication program associated with displaying the at least one secondobject among the at least one application program, in a database.
 9. Theelectronic device of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause theapplication processor, which is active, to: output a user interface forreceiving a user input to select the at least one first applicationprogram.
 10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the instructionsfurther cause the at least one display driver integrated circuit to:while the application processor is inactive, when the at least one firstobject displayed in the closed state is associated with the at least onefirst application program, assign a specified display effect or adisplay object to the at least one first object.
 11. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the at leastone display driver integrated circuit to: while the applicationprocessor is inactive, display at least one area of at least one of theplane part and the bendable portion of the flexible touch screen displaylayer, in a specified color.
 12. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the at least one display driver integrated circuit includes afirst display driver integrated circuit controlling display of the atleast one first object for the first area and a second display driverintegrated circuit controlling display of the at least one second objectfor the second area or the third area.
 13. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one display driver integrated circuitincludes a first sub memory for storing data associated with the atleast one first object and a second sub memory for storing dataassociated with the at least one second object.
 14. An electronic devicecomprising: a first plate; a second plate disposed under the firstplate; a rollable module interposed between the first plate and thesecond plate and disposed to move the first plate between an open stateand a closed state with respect to the second plate; a flexible touchscreen display disposed to extend from an upper portion of the firstplate to a space between the rollable module and the second plate,wherein at least part of the flexible touch screen display is guided bythe rollable module, and a screen area of the flexible touch screendisplay is expanded in the open state; at least one display driverintegrated circuit; and a processor electrically connected to theflexible touch screen display and the at least one display driverintegrated circuit, wherein the at least one display driver integratedcircuit is configured to: in a first state where the processor isinactive and the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is notexpanded, display at least one first object in a specified first area ofthe screen area; and in a second state where the processor is inactiveand the screen area of the flexible touch screen display is expanded,display at least one second object associated with the first object, ina second area corresponding to an upper portion of the specified firstarea of the expanded screen area or in a third area corresponding to alower portion of the specified first area.